David Zucker: And so “The Passioning” begins…
Posted by Dirty Harry on Friday, August 1st, 2008
Some (slightly redacted) snips via CHUD’s resident hard leftie Devin Faraci in response to the recent Politico article covering David Zucker’s An American Carol:
SURELY THE DIRECTOR OF AIRPLANE! HAS LOST HIS G**DAMNED MIND.
Now that the storyline of the movie has come out, I fear he’s gone bats**t insane.
Holy s**t.
I can’t wait to see this bizarre f**king thing for myself.
Don’t look for the usual suspects who slam conservatives for pre-judging a film to hold Faraci to the same standard. Those standards only apply to us. After all, if liberals were intellectually consistent they’d be conservatives … or Stalin.
Jeff Wells finds the mere idea of the film “sickening” but manages to restrain himself (this time) from calling for a professional blacklisting:
This evening a reliable source passed along this verbatim quote from a friend who’s seen An American Carol: “This thing goes beyond heavy handed. It reminds one of the sensation of watching Burn, Holllywood [sic] Burn. It tries to be outrageous but just comes off as a paean from a Republican who wants to continue getting tax breaks. I rank it right out there with Skidoo and Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness as far as the WTF nature of it all. The laugh quotient is right up there with The Love Guru and confirms that David Zucker was always the Fredo of the ZAZ comedy mafia.”
The only question over An American Carol was whether the Hollywood left would ignore it and hope it quietly goes away or react like this. You know, give it the ole’ Passion treatment; pull out all the bitter ugliness they can muster to destroy the filmmaker and in the process terrify anyone else considering a right-of-center project.
David Zucker’s been making films for over thirty-years, but today, and only because of his chosen subject matter, his humanity and sanity are ridiculed. Let’s change out the logline a bit, shall we? Let’s play a little game and shift a few words around in describing the film. Here’s what has Faraci and Wells all deranged:
In a climactic scene, Moore’s stand-in (here named “Michael Malone”) finds political clarity at the smoking ruins of the World Trade Center while the admonishing ghost of George Washington (played by Jon Voight) hovers nearby.
But what if the movie was about this:
In a climactic scene, George W. Bush’s stand-in finds political clarity at the smoking ruins of the World Trade Center while the admonishing ghost of George Washington (played by Ben Affleck) hovers nearby.
You change but two names and leave the rest exactly the same; same filmmaker, concept, and smoking ruins of the World Trade Center and suddenly Zucker hasn’t lost his f**king mind — suddenly he’s not the Fredo of the Brothers Zucker. We all know exactly how the Hollywood left would react after hearing about that film. Zucker would be hailed as courageous, a man growing as a filmmaker… And don’t forget that old chestnut: “ballsy.”
Unfortunately, they’re so blinded by ideological hate they can’t even step back for a second to appreciate the chance Zucker’s taking out of conviction. They can’t respect a filmmaker taking a real chance in this town against The Man called liberal Hollywood.
There’s a fear at work here. After a couple of decades of getting their liberal way in the dark they can sense the undercurrent — a cold war of sorts — upsetting their comfy entitlement. Hollywood’s under heavy intellectual fire from we righties, left wing films are imploding catastrophically, and maybe Batman really is George W. Bush.
They’re scared. They should be. This is a war of attrition and we’re not going anywhere. And should An American Carol bomb ugly we’ll be back. It may take a few years, but we’ll keep right on coming. And in the meantime there will be another Vantage Point, another Dark Knight, another 300, another Mel Gibson, another David Zucker, another filmmaker willing to give up years of adoration and acceptance to do what he thinks is right — another filmmaker who believes enough in liberty and intellectual freedom to be called “bats**t insane” by someone who wouldn’t risk his warm place in the embrace of this town to save his own soul.
There is absolutely no upside for David Zucker in making An American Carol. As you can see, even if it hits big he’s already hurt his career and more. And should it not hit… Talk about “ballsy.”
Filed in General |
Moon 01 Aug 2008 at 9:01 am 1Tolerance!
Rodriguezon 01 Aug 2008 at 9:05 am 2I vote Clooney as George Washington.
Of course, I just threw up in my mouth while typing that.
Stephanieon 01 Aug 2008 at 9:07 am 3Wow….how classy and intellectual for a what critic or film blogger to use both Holy Sh*t and F**king in the same blog about something he naturally disagrees with. And leftwingers wonder why we loathe them back so much. No I am not one of the nice classic LIBERALS who says ohh so n so is just misguided. No, not misguided, they are lightweight fascists who if their core beliefs their RELIGION is not reinforced with every piece of celluloid or sentence uttered, if they in fact are shown tehy are wrong the whirwind of leftist hate is spewed in a hurricane of vulgarisms that cannot be quantified by any science known to man. This idiots attitude is not even a surprise..what would be a surprise to me? If he (if he in fact can call himself a HE) actually proved himself to be an open minded “liberal” and wanted to see the movie and watch it with a mind to seeing others views……..but hey we are again looking into the mind of a post modern day leftwing fascist.
Kiton 01 Aug 2008 at 9:27 am 4I can’t wait for the film to come out!
However, I must speak my mind here.
I don’t view people like Wells, Faraci, and Moore as liberals.
Liberals can have a good argument and discussion with Conservatives and then switch to another topic such as family, tv, sports etc.
Wells’ and Faraci’s ilk are Leftists. They fit the term fanatics as described by Winston Churchill. They won’t change their mind, nor will they change the subject.
Liberals can be on good terms with Conservatives. I had two High School Teachers who were VERY Liberal, yet got along well with the rest of the mostly Conservative faculty. They were also great teachers. They could add meat to their arguments and probably could have good discussions. One of those is considered by many of the (conservative) faculty members to be the BEST teacher at the school. (Yes, “BEST.”) They even sometimes made jokes about being among the few liberals in the school that lacked condescension.
Wells and Faraci could never attain the good will these two men have among their colleagues.
The point is, these two people could, like their conservative colleagues, could look beyond the politics and see the colleague.
Wells and Faraci seem unable to do that.
Just wanted to get that off my chest.
Dylan Brunson 01 Aug 2008 at 9:31 am 5Its targeting Michael Moore and really crazy liberal weirdos, not Democrats, so whats the deal? I mean, the right wing has Buchanan, who most of us detest, isn’t Moore the same kinda total reactionary goober?
They have no right to complain about heavy-handedness, after the sickening crapfest of The Day After Tomorrow, and their assorted (screw the Iraqi people/troops suck) movies. I hope this movie is just as silly, just to watch them get enraged. However, I hope its good enough to make money. The problem is that conservative critics might support it intensely, and liberal ones hate it, for it politics. So, we might never know if it was good.
Max Poweron 01 Aug 2008 at 9:32 am 6“In a climactic scene, Moore’s stand-in (here named “Michael Malone”) finds political clarity at the smoking ruins of the World Trade Center while the admonishing ghost of George Washington (played by Jon Voight) hovers nearby.”
Man, that sounds just awfull. I’d much rather have a kick ass war movie where America is the good guy.
Is that so hard?
Kiton 01 Aug 2008 at 9:39 am 7Max Power,
This movie is a possible Declaration of Independence for Hollywood Conservatives.
A statement that we are here and we are not afraid.
Right now, we can’t get a “kick ass war movie” because NOBODY will fund it.
This movie could lead to the “kick ass war movie.”
Stephanieon 01 Aug 2008 at 9:40 am 8Ok Max you go and pitch that idea to Paramount and see how far that gets you. Its satire, its serious satire, and that is what is gonna make it work. Thats why I am gonna be there opening night. Zucker deseres praise not your admonishment. He has some guts to give the leftwingers in Hollywood and the Democrat party. a kick in the booty. ..yes Kit have you seen the leaders of this party recently? Black Nan and Blessed Lightning are as far to the left as anyone can get and the Demonrats LOVE THEM…..The Democrat party of Scoop Jackson and Jack Kennedy is dead. Gone. In its place is a leftwing fascist ideology as proven here by the diatribe Harry highlighted. We can be all nice and fluffy with them Kit but when you feel the knife they wield as your taxes get raised in an income redistribution scheme, your gas prices continue to go up and your values get flushed down the toilet by government conivance will be wielded by those Democrats you speak of. THats who they have become.
Kiton 01 Aug 2008 at 9:42 am 9Stephanie,
Are you saying I should avoid all association with liberals?
Carolynon 01 Aug 2008 at 9:44 am 10I’m noticing what’s NOT here.
Faraci and Wells are not judging this film as a film. They’re supposed to be like a plumber looking at someone’s kitchen or bathroom and telling me if the pipes leak or aren’t joined properly, etc., or a carpenter looking at floors or stair bannisters telling me if the wood’s been cut properly, is level, etc. Faraci and Wells should look at this film and tell me if its cinematography is any good, if the sound is bad, are the characters developed, is the pacing good, is the script believable, etc.?
But Faraci and Wells don’t tell me anything about the film - instead they only tell me about politics. Their politics! They’re screaming I can’t watch this film because it doesn’t have their politics.
So this is Hollywood now? Once it was me watching the Big Picture - now it’s me listening to Big Brother.
Screw that!
Stickwick Staperson 01 Aug 2008 at 9:46 am 11This thing goes beyond heavy handed.
To say this after the kind of political movies we’ve been getting from the Hollywood Left … sheesh, the gall on display here is just beyond belief.
Kiton 01 Aug 2008 at 9:50 am 12Stephanie,
You seem to suggest that liberals and conservatives cannot be good friends.
Are you saying that I should not look beyond the politics and see more than their political beliefs.
If so, then you are the SAME as Jeff Wells.
One who would decide their friendships based on politics and not personal value.
I know liberals AND conservatives who are involved in charity organizations.
I think that my liberal friends are WRONG, but I know their heart is in the right place and that they are good people.
You seem to view liberals through the same narrowed lense that posters on this blog criticize liberals of looking through.
If I am wrong in any of my statements about your beliefs, please correct me.
Alicaron 01 Aug 2008 at 9:52 am 13I’m a flaming left-winger and I think your “liberal” remix of the sequence would still be a bathetic travesty.
Danielon 01 Aug 2008 at 9:52 am 14HAH, HA HA HA!!! I posted this comment at 7:30 am:
“No doubt some already have their review written: “David Zucker disses the spirit of Charles Dickens with red meat for jingoistic Neanderthals. …” ”
And then I come back to DH’s place and see this post about Falaci’s comments.
I may have many faults, but being wrong is not one of them.
Kiton 01 Aug 2008 at 9:55 am 15I hope this movie is a hit.
Alicaron 01 Aug 2008 at 9:55 am 16Also, shouldn’t you be a little more charitable towards those who criticized Passion of the Christ, since Gibson ended up outing himself as an anti-Semite?
Kiton 01 Aug 2008 at 9:57 am 17Is there a trailer for AMERICAN CAROL out there?
Stanon 01 Aug 2008 at 9:58 am 18I’m with all y’all on Michael Moore being an idiot; I’m excited to see him skewered and I’m excited to see this movie.
However, that thing in front of the smoking towers does sound incredibly heavy-handed. Frankly, I suspect that even if the roles were reversed as DH suggests, it would still be ridiculed as heavy-handed. I don’t think lefty filmmakers tend to go quite that far in their fictional work. (Though Moore certainly does in his “documentaries”)
Danielon 01 Aug 2008 at 10:10 am 19Apparently Stan never heard of, let alone saw, “The Day After Tomorrow” or “The Contender” or that movie portraying the assassination of Pres. Bush. And do we really need to get into all those “bombs for al Qeada” Hollywood has been spitting out.
And Gibson is not an antisemite. So to answer Alicar’s question, “shouldn’t you be a little more charitable towards those who criticized Passion of the Christ” - in a word, No.
Audietooon 01 Aug 2008 at 10:17 am 20I will ‘know’ whether this film is any good by seeing it.
Alicar: Mel Gibson did not ‘out himself’ as an anti-Semite. He made a drunken statement which he has apologized for again and again. When will left wingers apologize for supporting rocket throwing Hamas anti-Semites.
Stephanieon 01 Aug 2008 at 10:25 am 21Kit your wrong……and I will tell you why. Don’t lecture me. I don’t like leftists. You would have to have them call you while your at work and call you filthy names because of who you work for. You would have to have leftist family members call your father an idiot and condecend to him because they don’t agree with him and they out of their own hubris think because they have a college degree that they are some how more intelligent and well informed than he. You would have to be told by these same people what a horrible person you are because you hunt, eat meat, support the war and are mighty upset because you happened to be caught in the terror and utter confusion of trying to get out of Washington DC on 9-11. Oh and you happen to like guys in the military and married one.
So, do not compare me to Wells. I know leftists like him very well. Everything I feel about them is through experience. There is no discussion, they demand and you either give in or you are treated like a 3rd class citizen. Wells doesn’t know any Republicans by his statements. He believes in a stereotype which doesnt exist.
Matton 01 Aug 2008 at 10:27 am 22I’m not quite sure that the ranting of two bloggers really amounts to the furor surrounding “The Passion.”
And you have to admit the distinct possibility that the all the “bitter ugliness” surrounding that film contributed mightily to its box-office draw. (I mean just about every magazine writer and TV pundit weighed in on it months before its release; it was literally publicity you couldn’t buy. And I am not saying that had the movie opened quietly it would have bombed.)
In any case, I don’t know why people are getting so worked up over this movie.
Stephanieon 01 Aug 2008 at 10:29 am 23One thing I wish we would do is stop apologizing for slamming leftists. Why is having the main character standing in the smoking ruins of 9-11 heavy handed? WHY?
You cannot make a point that has to mean something and then say but I didn’t really mean it that way. Yes you did and yes you stand by it. Conservatives and classic liberals are wayyyy tooo niceee to leftists. This movie sounds like its the kick in the arse they need.
CCW1970on 01 Aug 2008 at 10:34 am 24Folks -
I saw a test screening of the film a couple of weeks ago. It wasn’t comepletely finished, and I suspect Zucker and the filmmakers will address some pacing issues.
But, without judging the film as a whole, it has some great laughs and many scenes readers of this blog will love.
As to the WTC scene, I know it sounds over the top. But, I thought it worked pretty well.
The cut I saw is not without its flaws, like any work in progress. Overall, though, it’s got some great laughs and a positive message about America. It deserves our vigorous support when it comes out
CCW.
JimmyCon 01 Aug 2008 at 10:35 am 25This is a fine day indeed. Not only has An American Carol found a distributor, but apparently Che still hasn’t:
http://www.imdb.com/news/ns0000003/#ni0327833
CCW1970on 01 Aug 2008 at 10:36 am 26Should be “completely.” Damn these fingers!
Matton 01 Aug 2008 at 10:50 am 27Stephanie,
“Why is having the main character standing in the smoking ruins of 9-11 heavy handed? WHY?”
Heavy handed? I can see your point. From my perspective, a “screwball comedy” that contains a scene depicting Sept. 11 carnage is awfully risky for a really solid director, to say nothing for a film-maker as hit-or-miss as Zucker. If he misplays his hand, the scene could come off, unintentionally, as truly tasteless.
I’ll withold judgment until the film is released, but at first blush combining the sight gags of “Top Secret” and “Airplane” with the reality of Sept. 11 seems a little like burping the eulogy at your mother’s funeral.
hailstateon 01 Aug 2008 at 11:20 am 28Remember, this is coming second hand from someone politically motivated NOT to put the film in the best light. I’m willing to wait until it’s fully review before making a decision to see it.
Which will make more money: An American Carol or W?
Kiton 01 Aug 2008 at 11:27 am 29Stephanie,
I apologize. It appears you have met a different, more rabid, breed of leftists than I have. Those that are in my home town are often polite and cordial to those they disagree(I live in Alabama -if that explains anything). These people work with a member of the National Guard (one of the liberals is a Vietnam veteran).
I was upset that it seemed you were lumping those fine teachers with that distasteful group that attacked you for your beliefs and your marriage. I have never heard of those two men insulting another person in the fashion that you were insulted.
I apologize for comparing you to Wells and my lecture. I overreacted and for that I sincerely apologize.
I hope that my outburst of irrationality can be forgiven and put behind us.
ArchiCrashon 01 Aug 2008 at 11:33 am 30>>But Faraci and Wells don’t tell me anything about the film - instead they only tell me about politics. Their politics! They’re screaming I can’t watch this film because it doesn’t have their politics.
Carolyn, that seems to be standard operating procedure for lefties. In Architecture magazine, for instance, they had a ‘critique’ a few months back that ran down a list of recent museums that the magazine hadn’t fully reviewed. they listed the museum, then gave each one a few paragraphs of review. Then they mentioned a creationist museum, and the author went off the rails. The whole segment was spent lamenting, nay, deriding the mere existence of the museum. Not one word about the architecture or design of the museum. Becuase we wouldn’t want an architectural critique in the “critique” section of “Architecture” magazine….
Roberton 01 Aug 2008 at 11:39 am 31old chestnut: “ballsy.” HA! (Think about it)
Stephanieon 01 Aug 2008 at 11:40 am 32Nah no apologies needed. The person that really showed me what people like Wells is like is a 60’s radical. A hippy who cannot deal with approaching 60. This person was gassed at teh 68 Chicago convention and acts like she invaded Normandy. And the other is a teacher whom when asked why she was bringing Gay family literature into a 4th grade classroom she said it was because she wanted kids to know there were alternatives. My reply was and I would take my child out of your school and send him or her the Catholic grade school because your not a teacher you are a brain washer. And well if you work for a Republican leadership office you can expect people like Wells to call and then react when you say thats not what the Congressman believes with bellicose name calling. Leftist men really show their mysogny in that respect. The only guy to ever drop teh C word on me was a guy who called complaining that my boss wasn’t supporting the bill taht would add on months to an unemployment insurance bill or something like that. Leftwing men don’t really like women I decided after that. Oh watching a debate with a feminazi is fun to….everytime W would answer a quesion she would squeel like a pig stuck in barbed wire and shout over his voice. I nearly came to blows with her because frankly after the 90th time of calling W a moron, a Nazi, a tyrant and a racist I got sick of it and called her on it. But she outweighed me by a good fifty pounds….she would have kicked my arse. But damn those would have been proud wounds to have!
Kiton 01 Aug 2008 at 11:45 am 33Stephanie,
I am glad we can move on.
Katoon 01 Aug 2008 at 12:08 pm 34Glad to see Kit and Stephanie kiss and make up. I was going to add that when liberals are outnumbered (as Kit indicated they are in his — or her? — milieu), they tend to be much more polite than when they’re in the majority. Where they are more numerous, they can make it hell to be a conservative (e.g., Hollywood).
JohnFNWayneon 01 Aug 2008 at 12:11 pm 35The only thing that scares me about this movie is distribution. Will it be in enough theaters and will the public be willing to see a political satire. You can count me in for 10 viewings right now.
billypaintbrushon 01 Aug 2008 at 12:35 pm 36Gotta say something about Mel Gibson and The Passion. It seems to me that the work stands on its own. Mel is free to say what he wants, but the movie speaks for itself.
Picasso and Jackson Pollack led “interesting” lives but their work stands on its own and lives on.
Frankly, I don’t care about somebody’s politics if they can create something I can relate to.
Kiton 01 Aug 2008 at 1:14 pm 37Kato,
“(as Kit indicated they are in his — or her? — milieu),”
His.
founderson 01 Aug 2008 at 1:27 pm 38obama is starting to implode to, as well as the house and senate dems on drilling…this could get ugly
Max Poweron 01 Aug 2008 at 1:34 pm 39“I apologize. It appears you have met a different, more rabid, breed of leftists than I have. Those that are in my home town are often polite and cordial to those they disagree(I live in Alabama -if that explains anything).”
I live in northern California, Kit. You litteraly have NO idea how bad it is. Admitting you are conservative is like admitting you are a leper.
Kiton 01 Aug 2008 at 1:36 pm 40It appears that I have been in Alabama too long.
tsmonkon 01 Aug 2008 at 1:39 pm 41“SURELY THE DIRECTOR OF AIRPLANE! HAS LOST HIS G**DAMNED MIND.”
No he hasn’t.
And don’t call me Shirley. Prick.
Kiton 01 Aug 2008 at 1:41 pm 42tsmonk,
You just reminded me,
Leslie Nelson is in AMERICAN CAROL.
Carolynon 01 Aug 2008 at 3:32 pm 43Kit, you are gracious. Thank you.
In answer to your question about the rabidness of liberals - yes, unfortunately it is much worse here in California than in your neck of the woods. I am not exaggerating when I say that announcing to my San Francisco law firm that I was a conservative was a very risky move for me. It literally could have cost me my job. (In fact, it still may.)
JohnLockeon 01 Aug 2008 at 3:42 pm 44“I’ll withold judgment until the film is released, but at first blush combining the sight gags of “Top Secret” and “Airplane” with the reality of Sept. 11 seems a little like burping the eulogy at your mother’s funeral.”
You’re making it sound like that horrendous 9/11 scene from Uwe Boll’s “Postal” (saw the clip on YouTube and it absolutely disgusted me). There’s nothing wrong with comedy having a message.
Stephanieon 01 Aug 2008 at 7:56 pm 45Sometimes the best comedy comes with a comment….take
Berlin Caberet before Hitler took over. That was full of comment about society.
whiskeyon 01 Aug 2008 at 9:53 pm 46I’m confused here. I thought Liberals were 100% FOR anti-semitism given that their Obama-messiah is surrounded by them: Farrakhan, Wright, Pfleger, etc.
Heck, Liberals LOVE Jessie Jackson, and Al Sharpton, and they’re two of the biggest anti-Semites around. Heck Liberals LOVE Hamas and Iran and Hezbollah! I would have thought Mel Gibson’s drunken rant against Jews would have made Liberals love the man.
Help me out here.
Vladimir Val Cymbalon 01 Aug 2008 at 11:19 pm 47I saw this film. It is a work of art. There is good natured ribbing and comedy with a rational message. One can see the facts, logic, reason, and artistic talent employed in its creation. This film says the obvious. There is nothing in it that even a very left wing liberal can’t get too upset about but warm the cockles of every conservative.
gmkon 02 Aug 2008 at 4:39 am 48You could show Ground Zero obliquely, imply it through smoke and dust and sirens. All you’d have to do is put him ankle-deep in dust with 8.5×11 paper falling here and there, and just focus on his reaction (which IRL would probably be satisfaction, but won’t be in the movie) and on George Washington.
NeoConJedion 02 Aug 2008 at 8:33 am 49Losing your job for being a conservative is no joke.
After working at one place for over three years without ever missing a day of work, and being promoted once, and I was fired shortly after writing a couple conservative-themed columns.
I got called in the office after each one, and then one day I just got fired.
I took my American Flag and the pic of W off my office wall, gave a hefty middle finger, and walked. Why would I want help a company that gives so much money to socialist causes any way?
Dirty Harry’s Place… » David Zucker: “I donated my career to stop this s—”on 05 Aug 2008 at 1:46 pm 50[…] You think this leftie’s ever felt the same level of anger towards Saddam Hussein? You think this one’s ever ripped into Castro so hard? The Passioning of David Zucker’s just begun. And with […]
WHAT WOULD TOTO WATCH? » Let the Zucker bashing beginon 09 Aug 2008 at 12:41 pm 51[…] Well, film reviewers and bloggers aren’t gonna let him get away with it. Zucker’s next movie, “An American Carol,” is a pro-American, anti-Michael Moore romp. And the battle lines have already been drawn. […]
Kiton 09 Aug 2008 at 12:59 pm 52But lets face it.
This movie is going to BOMB bigger than most appease-the-terrorists-films for one simple reason.
NOT ONE BIT OF PROMOTION.
Outside of Dirty Harry, I ain’t heard one thing about this movie.
Can’t Zucker create just ONE promotional video for it?
Fox News could promote it, I’m sure he could find some radio ads to use.
Hell, Mel Gibson, got more attention than this for PASSION.
Only one promo has been done, and it is by someone WITH NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MOVIE and has recieved only 219 views.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plap3kj-7OM
So Zucker, post a youtube trailer, and let websites such as Libertas, Dirty Harry’s Place, NRO, etc. get the word around.
If I can’t see it near my hometown (Nowhere, Alabama), then it is going to bomb.
Dirty Harry’s Place… » An American Carol: The Left Brings On The Uglyon 10 Aug 2008 at 8:34 am 53[…] passioning of David Zucker and An American Carol has only just begun. Here’s another intellectual […]
Dirty Harry’s Place… » Roseanne Attempts To Blacklist Passion Angelina Jolieon 18 Aug 2008 at 11:55 am 54[…] Jolie’s a safe target for this kind of attack and yet another example of what I call “The Passioning” of stars and celebrities considered ideological apostates. It’s happened to Mel Gibson […]